Hungry? Hear One Man's Case For Why You Should Eat A Bug

Overcome the psychological barrier of eating insects and it’s possible that you just might discover a new favorite snack, according to one bug-eating enthusiast.

Robert Nathan Allen is the founder and director of Little Herds, an Austin, Texas-based nonprofit organization aimed at educating the public about eating bugs. He said that it’s not such an odd concept throughout the rest of the world, but that in the U.S. there’s an “ick” factor instilled in people at a very early age.

“We’ve always been told that insects are gross, they’re dirty, they’re pests, they’re the enemy of a farmer,” he said.

It’s true that eating a grasshopper lurking in the front yard isn't a good idea -- given the use of pesticides, lawn chemicals and other potential hazards. But, when insects are raised properly, Allen encourages people to dig in.

He laid out five reasons why people should eat insects:

1. Nutrition.

“Compared to traditional protein sources, they are just as healthy if not healthier in terms of protein, calcium, iron, micronutrients like B12 and B6 vitamins, Omega 3s, zinc, copper, magnesium -- all sorts of vitamins and minerals that we’re not going to get from other meats,” Allen said.

2. Sustainability.

Allen said the environmental impact is very minimal for the amount of food that is produced.

“They can be grown with very little land, very little water, very little food input and producing very few greenhouse gas emissions,” he said.

3. Taste.

According to Allen, there are nearly 2,000 species of edible insects, so there’s a good variety of flavor and texture.

“This is a great new open world for innovative chefs to start exploring with new recipes,” he stated.

4. Economic viability.

For developed areas where there may not be as much access to water, land or high-quality animal feed, Allen said that bugs are ideal.

“Insects are a great way for people to get their protein without having to have a lot of economic input, so it provides both food and economic security for people in food-insecure areas,” he said.

5. Cultural relevancy.

Allen declared that eating insects is a perfectly legitimate global food source, so Americans shouldn’t feel weird about incorporating them into their diets.

“About 1 in 5 people in the world eats insects on a regular basis and 80 percent of the world’s nations view insects as a normal food. They don’t have the same reaction that we do in western counties,” he said.

If that list is convincing enough to give bugs a whirl, Allen suggested starting with crickets, which he called his “go-to insect.”

“They have a very mild, oaty, nutty flavor, they’ve got a good amount of protein, and they’re packed with iron and calcium (and) all the other micronutrients,” he said.

Coming in a close second are mealworms, which are the larval form of the darkling beetle. Allen said what they lack in iron and calcium, they make up for in Omega 3s and Omega 6s.

Finally, for those who want something more exotic, Allen said to try ant eggs: “I’ve never tried ant eggs, but I’ve heard that ant eggs escamoles in Latin America are delicious, so that’s definitely high on my to-eat list,” he said.

Commenting Policy

Wisconsin Public Radio and WPR.org welcome civil, on-topic comments and opinions that advance the discussion from all perspectives of an issue. Comments containing outside links (URLs) will only be posted after they’ve been approved by a moderator. WPR.org will delete comments that violate our guidelines. Visit our social media guidelines for more information about these policies.